Notice Board fallout is inevitable. Customers will talk. Sales will slump. And yes, social media will amplify it.
But again- this was all in their original complaint. The financial harm, the customer dissatisfaction, and the damage to goodwill it was already part of their public narrative. What’ s changed is that the court has denied their emergency injunction. And sealing that denial looks, frankly, like an attempt to keep an unfavourable ruling under wraps.
‘ If you market a lock as unbreakable, and someone breaks it on camera, the fallout is inevitable. Customers will talk. Sales will slump. And yes, social media will amplify it’
The Real Story: Silencing Criticism?
What Proven Industries may really want sealed is the court’ s reasoning. Legal observers are especially interested in the court’ s fair use analysis, because that decision could set a precedent around commentary and product testing on YouTube.
It appears that they’ re attempting to suppress coverage of their loss under the guise of protecting sensitive data. However, the reality is that once something is filed publicly, it becomes part of the public domain. Trying to seal it retroactively doesn’ t protect anyone; it just draws more attention to what you’ re trying to hide.
My Role in All This
I’ m not a party in this case, but I did publish a BLOG on the topic yesterday have been following it through my blog and this magazine... And now, because of this sealing motion, I might need to file an intervention to oppose it if I want this content to remain visible. I’ m no lawyer, so we’ ll see.…
Proven Industries haven’ t approached me, and I’ m not cited in the court documents. But media has a right to access court proceedings, especially in
matters of public interest. And the public has a right to know when expensive security products don’ t perform as advertised.
Lessons for Proven Industries- and Anyone Reading
1. Don’ t provoke skilled critics online. If you call someone out, don’ t be shocked when they respond and expose flaws in your product.
2. Don’ t try to erase the internet. Once something’ s out there, it’ s out there. Filing after the fact makes you look shady.
3. Protect private info before it goes public. If you really want to keep names or business strategies confidential, use the proper legal mechanisms from the start.
‘ Let’ s be clear: harassment is inexcusable. Nobody, executives, employees, or families, should be targeted or threatened’
4. Litigation is not a marketing plan. You might win a legal point, but lose the trust of your customers.
Final Thoughts
I have every sympathy for those receiving abuse or threats. But that doesn’ t mean companies get to seal unflattering rulings. Transparency matters. And so does accountability.
Chris Dangerfield, www. ukbumpkeys. com
Come back in September for the conclusion …
AUGUST 2025
17
Issue Takeover locksmithjournal. co. uk